Renewed Hope is a scam, Tinubu should resign — Aregbesola

The National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, has called on Bola Tinubu to resign, citing worsening insecurity and economic hardship.

Aregbesola made the call while speaking at the ADC National Convention in Abuja, where he described the administration’s “Renewed Hope” agenda as a scam.

He said: “People who deliberately split the Peoples Democratic Party are today being falsely roped as political strategists.

“Since when has criminality become a strategy?

“The ADC does not, and we never owe its existence to any individual or group, including an electoral body masquerading as a neutral umpire with its leadership in the attire of political partisanship.

“The ADC derives its existence from the aspirations and the values of the Nigerian people, who are tired of the deceit and colossal mismanagement to which this country is being subjugated.

“We owe our existence to the Nigerian Constitution.

“We declare that freedom of association, including that to form or belong to any political party, is guaranteed and is a fundamental right.”

He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of undermining democratic values.

He said: “We are here because the ADC is on a rescue mission to reclaim the country from the strangulating grasp of the ruling party.

The APC is a party which has foisted on the country an electoral law that stinks of forgery, and making false claims in electoral documents is no longer valid; in other words, the ruling party is criminalising criminality.”

Aregbesola said economic conditions had worsened under the current administration.

He said: “We proclaim our existence because our country is worth the necessary sacrifices. We cannot allow khaki-socracy in Nigeria.

“The government claims that the recent reduction in exchange rates demonstrates its mastery of the economy.

“This is false.

“In truth, the exchange rate, which was about 700 naira to the dollar at the open market, not the official rate, when this government assumed office in 2023, is now about N1,400.

“This amounts to a 1,400 per cent devaluation in an import-dependent economy.

“This is terribly devastating.

“The cost of a litre of fuel before this administration was between 185 and 238 naira.

“Depending on the part of the country you are in, now it is about 1,400 per litre and still rising.”

He said rising costs have made daily life difficult for many Nigerians.

He said: “The administration told Nigerians that if it does not solve the power problem by providing a constant power supply, they should not be voted for a second time.

“Today, power supply is far worse, with some parts of the country receiving an average of two hours daily, and some other parts of the country also receiving an average of two hours daily.

“And some have been in darkness for stretches of weeks and months.

“Ordinarily, having made such a promise and fared woefully, an honest president should simply step down and not seek re-election.